About
What is FIRST?
" ... to create a world where science and technology are celebrated ... where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."
- Dean Kamen
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST is a not-for-profit, public charity organization incorporated in the State of New Hampshire.
A volunteer-driven organization, FIRST is built on partnerships with individuals as well as businesses, educational institutions, and government. Some of the world's most respected companies provide funding, mentorship time and talent, and equipment to make FIRSTs mission a reality. There are over 45,000 committed and effective volunteers who are key to introducing 100,000 youths to the joy of problem solving through engineering.
Since 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) has challenged high school students working with professional mentors to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. Not only is the program is a life-changing, career molding experience; it's also a lot of fun! In 2006, the competition reached more than 28,000 students on 1,133 teams in 33 regional competitions and one Championship event. Not only are there hundreds of teams in the United States, there are also teams that come from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
The Cyber Knights
The Cyber Knights, also known as FIRST Team 195, is a first robotics competition team from Southington High School in Southington, Ct. The team has actively participated in regional and championship competitions since their first season in 1998.
More information to be added.
Our History
In 1997, Johnson & Johnson Medical approached Southington High School about the FIRST Program. The next year, the team consisted of six students and attended one competition (in Rutgers, New Jersey) and was awarded the Play of the Day Award. The next three years, 1998-2001, the team consisted of ten students and attended only the local UTC New England Regional in Hartford, Connecticut.
By 2002 the team had grown to fifteen members and attended not only the UTC Regional but also the SBPLI Regional in Brentwood, NY. At both competitions they were awarded the Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award.
In 2003 the team again attended the UTC Regional, and placed 3rd out of 38 teams. This was the first year that the team was fortunate enough to attend the National Championship in Houston, Texas where they placed 17th out of 94 teams.
In 2004, the team earned the Entrepreneurship Award and placed 11th at the UTC regional. They also attended the New Jersey Regional where they placed 3rd and were awarded the Sportsmanship Award.
2005 saw the team attend the UTC Regional and place 3rd out of 34 teams. They also attended the National Championship held in Atlanta, Georgia.
What is considered the team's greatest achievements occurred in 2006. The team attended the UTC New England Regional where they were quarter finalists, and also won the Regional Radio Shack Innovation in Control Award. At the National Championship held in Atlanta, Georgia, the team earned the title of Newton Division Winner and went on to be a 2006 Championship Finalist, where the team received the National Radio Shack Innovation in Control Award for the second time.
In 2007 the team won the Connecticut UTC Regional in Hartford and received the General Motors Industrial design Award. At the National Competition in Atlanta, the team ranked 3rd out of 86 teams in the Curie Division.
In 2008 Team 195 was semifinalist in three Competitions. The Connecticut UTC Regional in Hartford, the Galileo Division at the National Competition in Atlanta, GA and The Battlecry at Worcester Poly Tech in MA (where they also received an Excellence in Engineering Award).
In 2009 the team was awarded the FIRST President’s Circle Award for the best video promoting the development of new teams (the video can be found here). The team attended the CT UTC Regional and the team’s safety captain was given the Safety Star of the Day Award. At the Championship in Atlanta, GA. the team placed 22nd out of 88 teams.
In 2010 the team attended the WPI Regional where they were quarter finalists and placed 9th of 29 teams. At the NE Utilities CT Regional they placed 33 of 56 teams. At the post-season Boston Beantown Blitz the team received the Mentor Championship Award.
2011 brought a significant amount of success to the Cyber Knights; it began with a win at a local off-season event in the fall, and from there the team went on to win both the WPI Regional and the Northeast Utilities CT Regional (where the team was also given the Quality Award) for back-to-back regional wins. In St. Louis the team seeded 13th of 88 and made it to the Galileo division quarterfinals.
Throughout the years, all of the team’s graduating seniors have gone on to higher education. Many students have received FIRST scholarships to prestigious universities such as Northeastern, Clarkson, and Rochester Institute of Technology.